Month: February 2017

Search Me, O God!

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                Psalm 139 talks about the omnipotence (all knowing) and omnipresence (all present) of God. What a beautiful reminder it is that we cannot escape God’s presence or His knowing of us. Add to this reminder of the love God has for us and we cannot escape His love and guidance for us as His children. The passage goes on to acknowledge in verses 13-16 how God uniquely created each of us and knew exactly why He added each of our details. God made each of us for a purpose in glorifying Him. We have a tendency to ignore our uniqueness and try to blend in or imitate the people around us. God created us to be set apart. We are meant to shine in the darkness and to never dull ourselves down to match the lukewarm environment around us. We are children of the One True King and are called to represent our adopted Father. This brings us to my point, made in the final two verses (23-24). (Psalm 139:23-24) Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Asking such a bold thing of God is confidence in His love and a vulnerability to Him in love. The word speak of us not being aware of some of our sins. (Psalm 19:12) Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. We must allow God to fill us so completely there is no place for sinfulness to dwell. Allow the Lord to search the places that you have become tolerant of and let Him fill those places with His Spirit so that you can draw closer to Him in the likeness of Jesus Christ.

The Real You

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                We all have a tendency to show the world the side of us we choose to reveal. We smile when we’re sad, we laugh when life hurts, we show strength when we are falling apart. Living like this over long seasons of life cause us to feel isolated both from people and from reality. We get so use to being accepted in certain ways that we develop a persona for different people based on how we feel we relate to them. It amazes me to see the undue stress we put ourselves under to be accepted for the things we are not, and losing focus of who we were designed to be. How much more beautiful is it to live in the fullness of who God designed you to be before time began, and to let the right people accept who you are without struggling to be someone else? I think we should all choose to be rejected by the people that would deny us in our authenticity. We have a God that sees through what we pretend to be. He knows what our hearts really desire and what they need to thrive. We have an idea of what we want, God’s wisdom knows without a doubt what we need. Be authentic with God and feel His acceptance of you. He created you to be the way He finds you. He will never be surprised by you. God knows every hair of your head and every sin you have or will ever commit. As you seek The Lord in prayer let him into the fullness of your heart so that He can make you whole. Let Him put the things that seem out of place back in order in your life and in your heart. You have to give Him all of the pieces if you want Him to work in completeness in your life. Don’t hide what you consider ugly or shameful. He sees you as His beautiful child, washed clean in the blood of Christ. He saved you so that you could come to Him. So go! Find the authentic relationship that both God and your spirit long for. No acceptance of people or things of this world will ever take the place of His love.

What is a Leader? (9 of 9)

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Conclusion

Trustworthy, Guiltless, Set Apart, Discerning, Humble, Consistent, Prosperous. These qualities are impossible to perfect on our own. Exhibiting them is proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in that leader. As a leader who seeks Christ-likeness we must realize that it is not our time to reign but our time to serve. It is not our goal to be right, it’s our goal to be sympathetic and unconditionally loving. It is our time to be set apart and rise as the world falls into turmoil and darkness. Look to the counsel of God and lead in a way that brings glory to Him and recognition to the source of your leadership. (Luke 12:48) Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

What is a Leader? (8 of 9)

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Prosperous in Multiple Environments– The world and circumstances change but God remains the same. God is the same now as He was in the beginning and will remain so for all time. The environment where a leader is led should not change their ability to thrive. This is even truer when the leader is led into that position by God and has been equipped from previous reliance on God to move into any role. The bible is full of people who thrived in impossible situations through their reliance on the God of the universe. (Romans 8:28) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

What is a Leader? (7 of 9)

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Consistent (Someone who can stand in front and take the most damage) – The true character of people is made clear in the difficult times. When people look to a leader they want one that doesn’t falter in the difficult times but rises to the occasion an takes his followers through the struggle. The hard times build trust. It’s easy to look good when the seas are calm but turbulence allows a true leader to be proven. Repeated resilience in turmoil is what separates leaders from the pack. The Christian believer follows a leader that will conquer all and has seen the storm before it ever existed. Our reliance on God makes us leaders of men. (Philippians 1:27-28) Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

What is a Leader? (6 of 9)

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Without Ego/ Pride/ Arrogance– Pride drives people away. Leaders are admired in their humility. People have trouble connecting with leaders who think too highly of themselves. It’s in the leader’s ability to take in fresh viewpoints that they connect to the people around them. In the eyes if our creator no one of His children is better than the other. We were all created in unique ways for His purpose. We must never seek to be any better than anyone else, we must look to grow in the unique qualities that each one of us bring to the table. Only together can we get any closer to understanding the infinitude of God. (Philippians 2:3) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Matthew 20:26) It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant

 

What is a Leader? (5 of 9)

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Discerning of Counsel (Let God determine what is taken to heart) – Good leaders have become good at discerning wise counsel through experience. We must run counsel through a Godly filter so that we can find what that advice really looks like. Some of the best counsel may be spoken by the least likely person as God uses the people around us to guide us. The opposite can also be true. A person we thought would be the best counsel could give us ideas that we are not meant to work with. We must seek counsel and let scripture and God’s Spirit what finds its place in us. (1 Timothy 6:20) Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

 

What is a Leader? (4 of 9)

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Set Apart– Living a life led by God and fueled by His Spirit will make a person stand out. Being a reflection of God’s light in this dark world will cause people to notice the light. That may be in the form of either imitation of rejection, but that none of your concern. You are called to be set apart (holy) through sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Being different than this world insures you are working toward God. (Philippians 2:14-15) Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

 

What is a Leader (3 of 9)

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Without Fault (Guiltless before God and man) – The thought of being faultless add undo pressure. It is impossible to be perfect. I fell what this speaks to is the quality of taking care of the wrongs with both God and man. With God we are asked to repent, with man we are called to reconciliation. We need to take credit for any shortcoming and admit where we need to improve. Seeking to improve is the first required step to succeeding in it. (2 Timothy 2:15) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (Proverbs 28:13) Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy